Kampala, Uganda: The Chairperson of the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), Prof Celestino Obua, has said the number of candidates sitting the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) continues to rise, while absenteeism has remained steady at 1.3 per cent for the second consecutive year.
Speaking during the official release of the 2025 PLE results, Prof. Obua noted that although absenteeism has stabilised, any level of learner drop-out remains a concern and called for deeper investigation into its causes.
“Candidature has continued to rise, while absenteeism has remained steady at 1.3 per cent over the last two years. However, any drop-out is a cause for concern,” Obua said, adding that he expects the Ministry’s technical teams to establish and address the underlying reasons.
Prof. Obua reported an improvement in Grade One pass levels compared to the 2024 examination, noting that more candidates qualified to proceed to the next education cycle.
He expressed confidence that, with government’s continued expansion of post-primary education opportunities, all 730,000 learners who passed and were graded would secure placement in secondary schools and vocational institutions.
“I have no doubt that, given the Government’s continued efforts to expand access to post-primary education, all the learners who passed will secure placement,” Obua said.
Competency-Based Assessment Deepens
For the second year running, UNEB conducted an item response analysis across all four PLE subjects to assess learners’ proficiency levels, a move Obua said aligns with Uganda’s transition to a Competency-Based Curriculum.
He confirmed that the analysis will now become an annual practice, providing consistent data to inform teaching, learning, and assessment reforms.
“This initiative aligns well with the country’s paradigm shift towards competency-based assessment. The analysis will henceforth be conducted and reported annually,” Obua said.
Based on the findings, the UNEB Chairperson said the Board has concluded that teachers require significant capacity-building support to effectively interpret the curriculum and adapt their instructional methods.
Over the past two years, UNEB identified two local governments with the lowest achievement levels and provided targeted teacher training as a pilot intervention.
“Subject to the availability of funds, this intervention, modest as it may be, will be sustained as a complementary effort to initiatives undertaken by the Ministry and its agencies,” Obua said.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
